The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Gathering of the Order

The enormous doors opened.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then a figure appeared beyond them.

Ares stepped into the throne chamber, already dressed in his Eclipse attire.

A black robe fitted closely around his body, allowing him to move freely without making the clothing unnecessarily elaborate. A long coat-like layer extended behind him, following his movements as he walked rather than hanging like an oversized cloak.

The hood rested naturally over his head, casting the upper half of his face beneath a deep shadow.

Thin silver-white lines ran along the edges of his robe, resembling the brilliant corona surrounding an eclipse. Whenever the True Eclipse Power circulated through his body, those markings emitted a faint white-gold glow, adding an almost otherworldly presence to his otherwise restrained appearance.

Two figures followed several steps behind him.

Draven walked on his right, carrying Astra carefully in his arms. The small Fifteen-Tailed Celestial Fox rested comfortably against his chest, its fifteen beautiful tails hanging loosely behind it, each one carrying a faint trace of its own distinct aura.

Cedric walked on Ares’s left, maintaining his usual composed expression as he followed silently.

Together, the three entered the throne chamber.

The moment Ares entered the chamber, every member of Eclipse lowered their head.

Hundreds of figures moved at once.

The sound of clothing shifting across the enormous chamber was almost imperceptible, yet the sheer scale of the movement made the scene feel overwhelming.

Three hundred and twelve members stood in complete silence.

Then—

"Welcome, Great Eclipse."

The greeting came from Vhan.

The members repeated it immediately.

"Welcome, Great Eclipse."

The voices echoed through the vast chamber, overlapping until they became a single, powerful sound that seemed to shake the walls themselves.

Ares continued walking.

Straight down the center of the chamber.

The members on either side remained motionless as he passed, their heads lowered respectfully.

The Ten Reapers bowed.

The Seven Crowns bowed.

The Four Black Roses lowered their heads.

The Harbingers, Watchers, Vanguard, Sentinels, and Seekers all remained perfectly still.

Ares maintained his composure.

From the outside, there was nothing unusual about him.

He walked with the same calm expression he always wore, his gaze moving naturally across the chamber as though standing before hundreds of loyal subordinates was something he had done countless times before.

Inside, however—

This is... quite a lot.

His eyes moved briefly across the enormous hall.

I knew there were more than three hundred people here, but seeing them all standing together is completely different.

He continued forward.

And why does everyone have to look so serious?

He suppressed the urge to sigh.

This is supposed to be me looking like an intimidating leader, right?

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Fortunately, no one could see the slight nervousness behind it.

Ares finally reached the raised platform.

The throne waited at the top.

He climbed the steps without haste and stopped before it.

For a moment, he looked at the throne.

Then he sat down.

The moment his body settled against the backrest, the atmosphere changed.

Vhan and Vince stepped forward.

The Four Black Roses moved first.

Aurora, Herrera, Octavia, and Leonora lowered themselves onto one knee.

The Seven Crowns followed.

One after another, they knelt on the steps.

Then the Ten Reapers lowered themselves as well.

Every one of them bowed their head.

The rest of the organization followed their example.

The entire throne chamber descended into silence.

Vhan spoke first.

"Great Eclipse."

His voice carried clearly throughout the hall.

"We are honored by your presence."

Vince followed.

"The Eclipsed Order awaits your command."

Ares looked across the chamber.

Hundreds of people were kneeling before him.

This is... surprisingly grand.

He rested one hand against the armrest.

I really wasn’t expecting this.

For a brief moment, he considered standing and telling everyone to relax.

Then he stopped himself.

No.

That would probably ruin the atmosphere.

He leaned back slightly.

"Rise."

His voice was calm.

The members stood simultaneously.

The movement was so synchronized that Ares almost found it impressive.

He looked toward Vhan and Vince.

What am I supposed to say now, haha?

His expression remained composed.

Inside, however, another thought appeared.

If I start talking without knowing exactly what I’m supposed to discuss, I’ll probably say something stupid.

His eyes moved toward the reports already prepared on the table beside Vhan.

Maybe I should let them handle this.

Ares subtly raised his hand.

Vhan immediately understood.

"Yes, Great Eclipse."

He stepped forward.

"The purpose of this assembly is to inform all divisions of the changes concerning our current operations."

Ares leaned back.

Perfect.

Vince continued.

"The destruction of the sixth laboratory has confirmed that our enemy has begun adapting to Eclipse’s activities. Their remaining facilities have changed their procedures, their records have become increasingly difficult to trace, and their personnel are now operating with greater caution."

The room remained silent.

"More importantly, we have confirmed the existence of individuals within their organization whose strength should not be underestimated."

Vince paused.

"Individuals capable of confronting members of Eclipse’s upper ranks directly."

Several members became slightly more attentive.

Vhan turned toward Leonora.

"Leonora."

Leonora stepped forward.

She remained standing as she addressed the room.

"During the destruction of the seventh laboratory, our group encountered an individual whose strength was considerably beyond that of the personnel we had previously encountered."

Her voice remained calm.

"He was not merely a researcher or an ordinary combatant. His physical abilities, swordsmanship, and magical power were all at an exceptionally high level."

She paused.

"I engaged him directly."

The chamber remained silent.

"He possessed enough strength to force me into a prolonged battle."

Several members exchanged brief glances.

Leonora continued.

"His abilities were enhanced through an artificial substance. After using it, his strength increased significantly, allowing him to reach a level comparable to the stronger members of the Seven Crowns."

A faint tension settled over the chamber.

Not fear.

Awareness.

Leonora looked across the organization.

"However, the greater concern was not his strength."

Her expression became colder.

"It was what we learned from him."

Vhan’s gaze sharpened.

"Continue."

"The laboratory was not abandoned."

Leonora’s words carried clearly.

"It had been prepared."

She briefly glanced toward Ares before continuing.

"The enemy deliberately reduced the number of guards and left enough evidence for us to locate the facility. They expected Eclipse to investigate."

Vince’s expression hardened.

"In other words, it was bait."

"Yes."

Leonora nodded.

"They wanted to lure one of our groups into the laboratory."

The chamber remained completely silent.

No one interrupted.

Leonora continued.

"The individual we encountered was waiting for us."

Ares rested his chin lightly against his hand.

So they finally tried using one of their laboratories as bait.

That was exactly the sort of development he had expected.

Leonora continued.

"He referred to himself as one of the people responsible for protecting the laboratory network. He also possessed knowledge concerning Eclipse that ordinary personnel should not have had."

Aurora stepped forward.

"This means our previous assumption is no longer sufficient."

Her voice was composed but firm.

"The enemy is not simply reacting to our attacks. They have begun studying our movements and attempting to predict where we will appear next."

Herrera nodded.

"Which means repeating the same operational patterns would be dangerous."

Octavia added,

"We must also assume that the information we recover from future facilities may have been deliberately prepared for us. Documents, locations, personnel movements, and even apparent weaknesses could all be fabricated."

Leonora looked toward the others.

"That is why our procedures must change."

Vhan nodded.

"From this point forward, no division is to assume that the discovery of a laboratory means the enemy is unaware of our presence."

Vince continued.

"Reconnaissance will be conducted before direct intervention. Any unusual reduction in security, suspiciously accessible information, or unexplained movement around a target location is to be treated as a possible trap."

Aurora spoke again.

"Members operating outside headquarters are also forbidden from revealing unnecessary information concerning their identities, abilities, or organizational positions."

Her gaze moved across the chamber.

"Our enemies have begun searching for us. The less they know, the longer we retain the advantage."

Aoda stepped forward slightly.

"We should also assume that the people behind these laboratories are not limited to those we have already encountered."

"Correct," Leonora replied.

"There may be others whose strength is equal to or greater than the individual we encountered."

That statement caused the atmosphere to become even more serious.

Ares remained silent.

He watched the members carefully.

There was no panic.

That was good.

They weren’t supposed to be afraid.

They simply needed to understand the situation.

They’re taking this more seriously than before.

Ares smiled faintly.

That’s exactly what I wanted.

Vhan continued.

"We have already begun compiling information regarding individuals connected to the laboratory network. Some have been identified indirectly through records, transportation routes, financial activity, and contacts with nobles or influential organizations."

Vince added,

"At present, we cannot determine how deeply their influence extends. For that reason, members are instructed to avoid unnecessary confrontations and eliminate only confirmed threats unless circumstances require otherwise."

Ares listened quietly.

Good.

If they start fighting blindly, we’ll eventually expose ourselves.

He glanced toward the gathered members.

And I don’t want that to happen.

Vhan finally looked toward the throne.

"Master, the divisions have been instructed to alter their procedures accordingly."

Ares nodded.

"Good."

The single word echoed across the chamber.

He paused.

For a moment, he almost said something else.

Then he decided against it.

Instead, he simply looked across the gathered members.

"Continue gathering information."

His voice remained calm.

"Do not underestimate the enemy."

He paused again.

"And do not expose yourselves unnecessarily."

The members remained attentive.

Ares leaned back against the throne.

"Strength is important."

His gaze became slightly sharper.

"But knowing when to use it is just as important."

No one moved.

The words settled over the chamber.

Ares looked toward Vhan and Vince.

"Continue."

Vhan bowed his head.

"Understood, Great Eclipse."

The meeting proceeded.

Reports were presented one after another, each division providing information concerning the organization’s current activities, the enemy’s movements, and the changes they had observed since the destruction of the sixth and seventh laboratories.

Ares listened quietly from the throne.

Occasionally, he nodded.

Sometimes he asked a short question.

Most of the time, however, he allowed the others to speak.

That was perfectly fine with him.

This is much easier.

He glanced toward the members standing before him.

Maybe I should keep doing this.

For now, there was no need to reveal everything.

The Eclipsed Order had become far larger than it had been when he first created it.

And with that growth came greater responsibility.

The enemy had finally begun to notice them.

The next stage would require more than strength.

It would require preparation.

And as Ares sat upon the throne, surrounded by hundreds of members who had devoted themselves to the organization, one thought quietly settled in his mind.

I should probably give them their new powers.

The Eclipse within him stirred faintly.

The power of the Fifteen-Tailed Celestial Fox had already been thoroughly understood.

Now it was only a matter of refining it.

Once that was complete, the Eclipsed Order would enter an entirely new stage.

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